Yankees best choices for assembling a playoff pitching rotation

ALDS Game 1

Say the Yankees start Tanaka against the Athletics in the Wild Card, and the Yanks win the decisive one-game shootout.

Now comes an ALDS best of five series against the rival Red Sox. Game 1 in Boston should go to J.A. Happ.

Happ has been phenomenal against the Red Sox this season. In two starts, Happ has allowed just one earned run and one walk while striking out 16.

Not to mention, Happ’s career ERA in Fenway Park is 2.91. The scary thing about Happ is that he’s a fly ball pitcher. That can be very dangerous in the small and oddly configured outfield of Fenway.

Happ’s experience is another valuable asset in this situation, starting a Game 1 against the best team in baseball could be nerve-racking, but understandably less for the 12-year vet that has pitched in the Postseason for the the 2009 World Series Champion Phillies — and more recent, his former team, the Blue Jays, back in 2016.

An All-Star this season, Happ has a 3.75 ERA — and his highest strikeout rate since his rookie season.

If this idea worries you, let’s not forget that this Yankees team was not — and is not a team led by its rotation. The Yankees’ forte is hitting this season, so the plan should be to hit the lights out of the ball while hoping for as much support from your starter as possible.

Happ is the way to go for Game 1, but what about Game 2?